A Biologist's Guide to Light in Nature
Buch, Englisch, 376 Seiten, Format (B × H): 157 mm x 233 mm, Gewicht: 605 g
ISBN: 978-0-691-13991-3
Verlag: Princeton University Press
Optics--a field of physics focusing on the study of light--is also central to many areas of biology, including vision, ecology, botany, animal behavior, neurobiology, and molecular biology. The Optics of Life introduces the fundamentals of optics to biologists and nonphysicists, giving them the tools they need to successfully incorporate optical measurements and principles into their research. Sönke Johnsen starts with the basics, describing the properties of light and the units and geometry of measurement. He then explores how light is created and propagates and how it interacts with matter, covering topics such as absorption, scattering, fluorescence, and polarization. Johnsen also provides a tutorial on how to measure light as well as an informative discussion of quantum mechanics. The Optics of Life features a host of examples drawn from nature and everyday life, and several appendixes that offer further practical guidance for researchers. This concise book uses a minimum of equations and jargon, explaining the basic physics of light in a succinct and lively manner. It is the essential primer for working biologists and for anyone seeking an accessible introduction to optics.
Autoren/Hrsg.
Fachgebiete
Weitere Infos & Material
Acknowledgments ix
Chapter One Introduction 1
Chapter Two Units and Geometry 8
Chapter Three Emission 31
Chapter Four Absorption 75
Chapter Five Scattering 116
Chapter Six Scattering with Interference 151
Chapter Seven Fluorescence 181
Chapter Eight Polarization 203
Chapter Nine Measuring Light 237
Chapter Ten What Is Light, Really? 271
Appendix A Converting Spectral Irradiance to Lux 287
Appendix B Calculating the Absorbance Spectrum of a Visual Pigment 290
Appendix C?Refractive Indices of Common Substances 292
Appendix D Optical Properties of Very Clear Water 293
Appendix E?Optical Properties of Natural Waters 295
Appendix F?Useful Formulas 297
Appendix G Equipment and Software Suppliers 302
Bibliography 307
Index 319
